Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Edinburgh has been adopted by Scottish Gas as its local charity partner. Scottish Gas Business Services in Granton has pledged to help the MS Therapy Centre for at least the next 12 months through fundraising activities, providing IT support, refreshing the website and by staff volunteering at the Centre itself.
It is estimated that there are approximately 2300 people in The Lothians alone who live with Multiple Sclerosis.The MS Therapy Centre, which covers Edinburgh, Fife, The Lothians and The Borders,costs £180,000 to run per year with the majority of this money coming from fundraising and charitable donations.
David Stewart, HR Manager at Scottish Gas said: “Scottish Gas isproud to support the MS Therapy Centre Lothian as its local charity partner. Over the next year, our people will hold fundraising and volunteering activities for a fantastic cause that helps so many people living with MS.”
Carole Macartney, Chairperson, MS Therapy Centre said: “This announcement is going to make such a difference to the people who use the Centre and also to our amazing team of volunteers. I am looking forward to meeting the Scottish Gas staff as the partnership grows and would like to thank them very much for nominating the MS Therapy Centre as their charity partner.”
Scottish Gas has already raised £180 through a raffle among its Granton HQ staff and is organising a programme of further fundraising events.
Traffic at the east end of Ferry Road will be severely disrupted for up to 28 weeks when Scottish Gas Networks begins major work to replace mains pipes at the end of this month. The company says the upgrade to the network is essential, but commuters and local residents look set for seven miserable months of road closures, parking restrictions, diversions and temporary traffic lights.
In a statement, Scottish Gas Networks said: ‘The existing metal gas mains and services in the vicinity of Ferry Road, need to be replaced with modern plastic polyethylene (PE) pipe to ensure a continued safe and reliable gas supply to the local area. We will be renewing 1.75km of gas mains.
This essential work forms part of our ongoing mains replacement programme developed with the Health and Safety Executive. Work will last for approximately 28 weeks and will be carried out by May Gurney on our behalf.
We have been working closely with the City of Edinburgh Council, Lothian and Borders Police and Lothian Buses to plan this project and minimise disruption as much as possible. We will continue to work with these organisations and local residents throughout the course of the project.
Works will begin on Ferry Road, at its junction with Madeira Street and will continue westbound towards Craighall Road. The works will take place in four phases during which time there will be some temporary traffic lights in operation.
Phase 1 works will be between the junction of Ferry Road with Madeira Street and the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road. This phase will last for approximately six – eight weeks.
During Phase 2 we will be working between the junction of Ferry Road with Newhaven Road and Bonar Place. This will take approximately 10 weeks.
Phase 3 will last approximately four weeks. Works will be on Newhaven Road, from the junction with Ferry Road to the junction with Pitt Street.
Phase 4 will also take place on Newhaven Road, between the junction with Bonnington Avenue and the junction with Stewartfield. During this phase there will also be some works on West Bowling Green Street. The phase will last for approximately six weeks.
Works will be suspended from Friday 21 December for the festive period. They will recommence on Monday 7 January.
To allow for the manoeuvre of heavy plant equipment and to ensure everyone’s safety there will be some parking restrictions in place during the works, as well as some local road closures. Local diversions will be in place where necessary.
All local shops and businesses will be open as usual. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times and access for deliveries to businesses will be maintained where possible.’
While the company plans to mitigate problems for commuters, traders and residents, the scale of the work is going to have a major impact on Ferry Road and adjacent neighbourhoods.
Scotland Gas Networks’ Team Manager, Simon Kennedy said: “All our works are carried out in close consultation with the local Council and we will do everything we can to minimise disruption. We understand that people get frustrated by roadworks and thank them for their patience while we carry out these essential works. The new plastic pipe has a minimum lifespan of 80 years. This means that when the work is complete, local residents will continue to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply for years to come.”
Quest 2012, the annual scavenger hunt which is the centrepiece of summer programme activities, got underway from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue this morning.
Quest 2012, the annual scavenger hunt which is the centrepiece of summer programme activities, got underway from Scottish Gas HQ on Waterfront Avenue this morning.
Scottish Gas staff came to the aid of a local food bank recently when they collected tins and packets of food for the Basics Bank based at The Christian Centre in West Pilton. In these tough economic times more and more people need a helping hand and the Scottish Gas team’s efforts have ensured that the local food bank – which relies on charitable donations – remains well stocked.
Angie Lumsden of Scottish Gas explained: “Over recent years we have had a big campaign to support Edinburgh Womens Aid with our Easter Egg appeal – this year we collected over 300 eggs, many of which were distributed through local projects here in North Edinburgh. We decided we would build on that and, after speaking to Forth councillor Cammy Day, we decided to collect foodstuffs for the local food bank run by Edinburgh City Mission in West Pilton.”
The response from Waterfront Avenue staff was overwhelming, donations rolled in and when Tom and Mark from the Basics Bank called in to uplift the collection they were overwhelmed!
“A donation like this will feed 25 families for a month. It’s incredible and very much appreciated”, said Tom. Mark added: “Scottish Gas staff have been so generous and this will make a big difference to people’s lives. It’s a great help.”
Angie added: “We couldn’t have done this without the help and support of our Wellbeing Team, who have been great. I’d like to think we could do something like this maybe twice a year”.
Tom and Mark are flanked in the photograph by Scottish Gas staff Steve and Ross.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Therapy Centre in Edinburgh has been adopted by Scottish Gas as its local charity partner. Scottish Gas Business Services in Granton has pledged to help the MS Therapy Centre for at least the next 12 months through fundraising activities, providing IT support, refreshing the website and by staff volunteering at the Centre itself.
